Urban Centre · Area profile
Taree
38 km²
A significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 12.3% sets Taree apart from most other areas. This growing community has seen its population climb by 64% since 2011, reaching over 18,000 people. It is a notably older place, with a high proportion of seniors and many residents living alone. While the town is generally affordable, it faces challenges with higher unemployment and lower typical incomes compared to the rest of the state.
Explore Taree by topic
The local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen sharply to 12.3% since 2011. Residents are generally older than the national average, with 27.2% aged 65 and over.
Taree is less diverse than the state average, with only 8.6% of people born overseas. This is a downward trend from 2011, and most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.
English is the dominant language for 87.2% of the community. Only 4.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
The number of people reporting no religion has risen 18 points since 2011 to 36.9%. This is a little below the national average, while 51.8% of residents identify as Christian.
The community has a lower level of formal qualifications than most areas, with only 9.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The proportion of people completing Year 12 has also fallen since 2011.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual household earning $990 a week. Only 6.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.
Health challenges are common here, as 40.3% of people have a long-term health condition. This includes high rates of mental health conditions and a high proportion of people needing help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is more common here than in most areas, with 14.5% of people providing this support. However, the number of local volunteers has fallen since 2011.
One-parent families are much more common here than in other areas, making up 25.9% of households. This trend has risen 12 points since 2011, alongside a rise in people living alone.
Separate houses are very common at 79.3%, and 36.8% of homes are owned outright. Renting is more frequent than in most areas, though the typical weekly rent of $290 is well below the state average.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 70.3% of workers driving to work. Very few people use public transport for commuting, and 10.1% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The area has seen a steady flow of people, with 37.6% moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.3% of the population.
Unemployment is much higher than the national average at 8.9%. Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to the state, and many are employed in health care and social assistance.
Taree is somewhat walkable, with 91% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, access to health services is poor, with only 33.6% of homes within a 15-minute walk.